Well hello, 2013! How’s a bout a recap of the last year here at white house black shutters? I think we grew a lot and had some awesome stuff happening around here last year. Here are the best of the best, decided by your clicks and views and me being a bossy pants and picking some for you.
twelve:
The first project combined painters tape with finger painting to make this artwork that … [Read more...]

I’ve had two projects done since Tuesday and I haven’t posted in all that time because it’s the only project on my brain. I couldn’t wait to finish. I can’t wait to show you. No wait, make that I CANT WAIT TO SHOW YOU!!!!!! These are two projects I’ve been wanting to do for a very long time. Two things that have taken me a long time. Both things inexpensive and both things making a huge impact in … [Read more...]

Let’s start at the beginning, shall we? Here’s a picture from when we first took a tour of our house, August 2009. WOW. 3 years ago?! This is why our blog is called white house black shutters (even though our house is not white). We had old, dirty white siding that I thought we’d freshen up with new white paint, and I envisioned adding black shutters. The bushes and landscaping were outdated, … [Read more...]

I had a teacher in fourth grade that would have several students at a time stand up in front of the class and read a passage from the text book. It was good practice for public speaking. But even better, she asked everyone to give constructive criticism, and tell them how they could get better. I loved it. Still do. Often times we think other people don’t want to hear the truth, that they want … [Read more...]

I’m not going to just lead ya into the after (although that would be fancy). We are 95% of the way done! Foyer rebuilt, old floors up, heat registers moved, new floor down, walls painted, doors replaced, trim painted, trim hung, stairs, railing, and floor registers stained (as of last night). We still have to caulk the trim, touch it up, throw a coat of poly on the stain, and move the furniture … [Read more...]

I’m sorry I’ve held back. I’m super in love with the floors. I clean my kitchen and vacuum every night so it looks all shiny. I don’t have to dodge doors while walking in and out of the house (I never even knew I did that). But things have been a little nutso around here. I’m not gonna act like I’m the first person living through a renovation, or the first person with three kids living through … [Read more...]

I have no words. These wood floors make me happy. Just kidding. ;) I’m Italian, I always have words! Do you love it?! I need to touch up the cabinets and have a few other ideas to freshen up the space. I also conned Doug into starting another huge project before we start adding trim, any guesses? One more beauty shot. Ignore the glimpse of the “realities of renovation,” aka a pile of … [Read more...]

So here’s where we left off. Day One: The laminate tile was taken out, staples removed, and all the junk was scraped out. Furniture was cleared out, the floor was started. These registers had to be refigured and cut, because they were originally right up against the wall. These will later be stained and poly-ed to match the floor. Day Two: Got farther, but also reconfigured … [Read more...]

Here are things on the opposite side of the foyer, how they stand right now. Doug ripped up all the carpet except for the little area around the entertainment center (see it, see it?). We got a big ole pile of wood flooring, and a new couch. HEY?! A new couch?! You may remember that we had these two leather couches, a hand-me-down from Doug’s grandparents. But as the years went on, they got all … [Read more...]

A quick recap for ya: our entry way was too small, we’re getting wood floors, so while we’re ripping up flooring, why not tear out some of the floor and redesign it? Sounds like a walk in the park right? I had to leave to do some tests on Saturday and of course right as I was leaving, Lowe’s delivery man decided to show up. GAH! I didn’t want to miss it! But I did, he delivered it with his fancy … [Read more...]